The '''Conception of the Theotokos''' by Saint [[Anna]] is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on [[December 9]].

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The '''Conception of the [[Theotokos]]''' by Saint [[Anna]] is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on [[December 9]].

St Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, was the youngest daughter of the priest Nathan from Bethlehem, descended from the tribe of Levi. She married St [[Joachim and Anna|Joachim]], who was a native of Galilee. For a long time St Anna was childless, but after twenty years, through the fervent prayer of both spouses, an [[angel]] of the Lord announced to them that they would be the parents of a daughter, who would bring blessings to the whole human race.

St Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, was the youngest daughter of the priest Nathan from Bethlehem, descended from the tribe of Levi. She married St [[Joachim and Anna|Joachim]], who was a native of Galilee. For a long time St Anna was childless, but after twenty years, through the fervent prayer of both spouses, an [[angel]] of the Lord announced to them that they would be the parents of a daughter, who would bring blessings to the whole human race.

The Orthodox Church does not accept the teaching of the [[Immaculate Conception]], but has also always believed that the Virgin Mary was, from her conception, filled with every Grace of the Holy Spirit in view of her calling as the Mother of Christ our God.

The Orthodox Church does not accept the teaching of the [[Immaculate Conception]], but has also always believed that the Virgin Mary was, from her conception, filled with every Grace of the Holy Spirit in view of her calling as the Mother of Christ our God.

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The Church also celebrates other [[Saint]]s who were sanctified in the womb of their mothers. St [[John the Baptist]] is one example, St [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas the Wonderworker]] is another.

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The Church also celebrates other [[saint]]s who were sanctified in the womb of their mothers. St [[John the Baptist]] is one example, and St [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas the Wonderworker]] is another.

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The feast is not a perfect nine months before the feast of the [[Nativity of the Theotokos]] ( [[September 8]]) as it is in the west, but a day later.

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The feast is not a perfect nine months before the feast of the [[Nativity of the Theotokos]] ( [[September 8]]) as it is in the West, but a day later.

==Hymns==

==Hymns==

[[Troparion]] (Tone 4)

[[Troparion]] (Tone 4)

Line 20:

Line 20:

:For Anna has conceived the Theotokos through God's dispensation,

:For Anna has conceived the Theotokos through God's dispensation,

:For she has brought forth the One who is to bear the Ineffable Word!

:For she has brought forth the One who is to bear the Ineffable Word!

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==Sources and Externals links==

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*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103506 OCA's Conception of the Theotokos]

[[Category:Feasts]]

[[Category:Feasts]]

Revision as of 04:46, December 8, 2006

The Conception of the Theotokos by Saint Anna is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on December 9.
St Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, was the youngest daughter of the priest Nathan from Bethlehem, descended from the tribe of Levi. She married St Joachim, who was a native of Galilee. For a long time St Anna was childless, but after twenty years, through the fervent prayer of both spouses, an angel of the Lord announced to them that they would be the parents of a daughter, who would bring blessings to the whole human race.

The Orthodox Church does not accept the teaching of the Immaculate Conception, but has also always believed that the Virgin Mary was, from her conception, filled with every Grace of the Holy Spirit in view of her calling as the Mother of Christ our God.